Disposable Calibration Card for Photoluminescent Oxygen Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing calibration methods for photoluminescent sensors are time-consuming and expensive, necessitating a low-cost and reliable system for accurately calibrating instruments used to read oxygen concentrations.
Innovation Solution
A calibration card with two masses of oxygen-sensitive photoluminescent dyes, one embedded in an oxygen-permeable carrier matrix and the other in an oxygen-impermeable carrier matrix, allowing for independent readings to correlate oxygen concentrations, is used to calibrate analytical instruments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional calibration methods using certified tank gas are used, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs disposable calibration cards containing photoluminescent materials with known oxygen sensitivities instead of expensive, time-consuming certified tank gas. These cards are inexpensive to manufacture and can be quickly exchanged, providing accurate calibration without the time and cost penalties of traditional methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The calibration card creates a simplified copy of the actual sensing mechanism using photoluminescent materials embedded in a carrier matrix. By replicating the optical properties and oxygen sensitivity of the probe being calibrated, the system enables accurate calibration through optical comparison rather than requiring complex gas handling equipment.
2Measurement precision
If traditional calibration methods using certified tank gas are used, then measurement precision is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The calibration card is designed as a low-cost, disposable item that eliminates the need for expensive certified tank gas and complex calibration equipment. The photoluminescent materials and carrier matrix can be manufactured at minimal cost, making the calibration process economically viable while maintaining high accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical and chemical complexity of tank gas handling systems with a simple optical system. The calibration card uses photoluminescence properties that can be read directly by the sensor, eliminating the need for gas cylinders, regulators, and complex delivery mechanisms, thereby dramatically reducing manufacturing and operational costs.
3Device complexity
If a single photoluminescent composition is used in the calibration card, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The calibration card incorporates multiple photoluminescent compositions with different oxygen sensitivities in distinct regions. This allows the system to provide accurate calibration across a range of oxygen concentrations by selecting the appropriate region based on the expected measurement range, thereby maintaining high precision without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The calibration card is divided into separate regions, each containing photoluminescent materials with specific oxygen sensitivities. This segmentation enables the system to handle different calibration scenarios independently, improving accuracy for specific measurement ranges while keeping the overall device design relatively simple and modular.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method enables quick and accurate calibration of photoluminescent oxygen probes, reducing costs and time by utilizing a calibration card with known sensitivities to oxygen, allowing for precise correlation of readings with ambient oxygen concentrations.
Implementation Method 1
measuring the extent to which radiant energy emitted by the excited probe is quenched by the presence of the target analyte
Implementation Method 2
measuring the extent to which radiant energy emitted by the excited probe is quenched by the presence of the target analyte
Implementation Method 3
embedded within an oxygen-permeable carrier matrix
Implementation Method 4
embedded within an oxygen-permeable carrier matrix
Data Source
AI summary
A calibration tool for use in combination with a photoluminescent oxygen-sensitive working probe and an analytical instrument capable of reading the working probe. The calibration tool is effective for achieving two-point calibration of the analytical instrument, and includes at least first and second solid state compositions having different sensitivities to oxygen. The first composition is an oxygen-sensitive photoluminescent dye that is the same as that in the working probe, embedded within an oxygen-permeable carrier matrix that is the same as that in the working probe. The second composition is an oxygen-sensitive photoluminescent dye that is the same as that in the first composition, embedded within a carrier matrix that is different from that in the first composition. The oxygen sensitivity of the second composition is less than the oxygen sensitivity of the first composition.